Classification of the coastal water bodies of the Maltese Islands through the assessment of a decadal ocean colour data set

ABSTRACT Azzopardi J., Deidun A., Gianni F., Gauci A. P., Angulo Pan, B. and Cioffi M., 2013. Classification of the coastal water bodies of the Maltese Islands through the assessment of decadal ocean colour data set Nine coastal water bodies off the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean) were identified within the Water Framework Directive. The degree of spatial and seasonal variability in the ocean colour chlorophyll-a values (monthly re-analysed values originating from MODIS, MERIS and SeaWiFS sensors available from the MyOcean Marine Core Service) for these water bodies in the 2003–2011 period was evaluated graphically and statistically. Weekly values from the same satellite platforms were only available for the period 2010–2011 and these were analysed separately. The nine coastal water bodies were characterized by ocean colour values consistent with an oligotrophic water body, with seasonal mean values ranging from 0.06 to 0.35 mg/m3. The same nine coastal water bodies were classified according to an...